Kentucky sends more help to hurricane victims in Florida

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – Kentucky Emergency Management (KYEM) has deployed two more employees to aid Florida through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC).  Junior Lewis, a subject matter expert for disaster recovery centers, will be assisting in Orlando, while Melinda Hutcherson, a public assistance subject matter expert, will assist with public assistance kick-off meetings in the Miami and Key West areas.

To date, KYEM has deployed an ambulance strike team, a Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD) coordinator, and an Incident Management Team (IMT) in support of Hurricane Irma recovery.

Assistance requests are coordinated and authorized through EMAC, which is a mutual aid agreement between states and territories in the United States.  It enables states to share resources during natural and man-made disasters.  Under EMAC agreements, the requesting state reimburses all associated costs incurred by the provider state.  KYEM is the managing authority for deployment of all Kentucky teams and assets.

Additional information about KYEM can be found at www.kyem.ky.gov.